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If, therefore, your illustrious house wishes to follow these

remarkable men who have redeemed their country, it is necessary

before all things, as a true foundation for every enterprise, to

be provided with your own forces, because there can be no more

faithful, truer, or better soldiers. And although singly they are

good, altogether they will be much better when they find

themselves commanded by their prince, honoured by him, and

maintained at his expense. Therefore it is necessary to be

prepared with such arms, so that you can be defended against

foreigners by Italian valour.